Hey, I am a Spanish learner from Finland and I would like to know if somebody know a good method to improve listening comprehesion, I have the problem that I found either very advanced podcast or very simple ones and not many guide you on how to listen, I tried the most common ones when I type SPanish podcasts or audios at Google but after trying I've found that they don't help me out to overcome my struggle listening movies or native speakers. Thanks in advance folks.

Hey, I am a Spanish learner from Finland and I would like to know if somebody know a good method to improve listening comprehesion, I have the problem that I found either very advanced podcast or very simple ones and not many guide you on how to listen, I tried the most common ones when I type SPanish podcasts or audios at Google but after trying I've found that they don't help me out to overcome my struggle listening movies or native speakers. Thanks in advance folks.

How long have you been actively trying to hone your listening skills?

That's important too.

About 2 years...

If you can't find a native Spanish speaker to converse with you in Spanish, listen to songs in Spanish and try to find the lyrics in Spanish which are often available on line. Unfortunately contemporary pop music is not usually a good choice. Find ballads in Spanish known a boleros (with singers like Olga Guillot). If you stick to it, you will definitely improve you listening, and not to mention, speaking skills.

I agree that some music may not be the best idea... however, you can try listening to podcasts (or movies or news or TV programs) on topics you already know about, so you can follow what is being said. Improving your vocabulary will help you understand much more.


And perhaps you'll also find useful some posts in this other thread (http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=9026). :)

About 2 years...

OK.

So I guess you understand much if not all that is written and you know how to write what you understand.

Right?

Check out Senor Wooly's site for a great combination of musical videos, audio files and lyrics. Sr. Wooly (Mr. James Woooldrige) is a public school Spanish teacher who created these resources for his students and subsequently has shared them with the wider public. They are fun and lighthearted and make listening to them over and over enjoyable. I'm finding that my listening skills are improving as well as my grammar and vocabulary.

The site is http://www.senorwooly.com/

His cornerstone song is Billy La Bufanda (http://www.senorwooly.com/song.php?cancion=billy) but one I truly enjoy is ¿Puedo ir al baño? (http://www.senorwooly.com/song.php?cancion=puedo_ir_al_bano)

I don´t think listening to music is a good way to improve a language.
Me gusta mucho los podcasts principalmente porque puedes hacer otras cosas en mismo tiempo.
En esto momento también estoy tentando ver películas con close caption, pero solo consigo entender bien películas para niños (Shrek, The Incredibles, this kind of stuff).

I use... youtube. A LOT. there many good Spanish language channels. An hour or so of research will let you choose a few youtube channels that will work for you and it's all gratis! If you want it more organized and focused there are good computer-based courses. Rosetta stone by all means if you can afford it.
<snip>
Occasionally I also like to go to the Latino part of the city, go to cafes, stores and restaurant and sort of eavesdrop, basically trying to discern what people are talking about. ;) ¡Buena suerte

I'd suggest tv with subtitles. The advantage of tv over pure audio is that you can get a lot from the context and visual aspect of what's going on, so you don't necessarily need to understand as much as you would a podcast, for example. Use subtitles so you can pick out words in phrases - usually problems with listening are to do with not understanding connected words and phrases, rather than problems with vocabulary.

Make an investment from amazon es (recently opened), and watch some series you already enjoy, in Spanish, with subtitles on. Helped me hugely!

Hey, I am a Spanish learner from Finland and I would like to know if somebody know a good method to improve listening comprehesion, I have the problem that I found either very advanced podcast or very simple ones and not many guide you on how to listen, I tried the most common ones when I type SPanish podcasts or audios at Google but after trying I've found that they don't help me out to overcome my struggle listening movies or native speakers. Thanks in advance folks.


Hola John,

I have many many many Spanish and Italian audio books and music CDs and I listen to them in my car and at home. I've been doing this for year. My car is my language lab. I drive many miles round trip. Also listen to the Spanish radio although I'm trying to improve my Italian right now. Also I have Spanish and Italian programs downloaded on my cell phone. In addition I have an I-pod filled with hours and hours of Spanish and Italian. If I'm working around the house I listen to them. When I go to the gym I listen to them. I get free or almost free Spanish and Italian CDs from the J.W.'s. Plus I download free Italian and Spanish audio on my phone from the J.W.'s. Como si todo esto fuera poco I watch/listen to cuatro Spanish speaking novelas todos los dias.